It's nearly the end of the week.
Some of us will have had a great week and connected with our brothers and sisters, our Father and our Lord Jesus Christ.
Some of us won't have had a great week.
Maybe we're worried about something.
Maybe work is all-encompassing.
Maybe we just haven't got the will to read God's word at the moment.
Maybe we want to pray, but we don't know what to pray about.
Maybe we don't even want to pray because we don't know what to say.
But wherever we are, let's remind ourselves of our wonderful hope, and the grace in which we stand:
“Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”
Here are a few of the 'take aways' I get from this passage:
1) We can draw near to God. However your week's been, however happy you are, or however sad you are, whatever you've done or not done, you can draw near to your Father and have a relationship with him. If you haven't done that this week, why not do it now?
2) We have "full assurance" in our faith. By grace, we have been saved through faith. We have been saved. Remember that.
3) Our hope is not going anywhere. God has made promises. God is faithful. God will deliver on those promises.
4) Love and good deeds is what it's all about and we need to be considering how we can help each other to do more of both.
5) Meeting together is vital. God knows how important it is for us to spend time together. He knows that by fellowshipping together, we build each other up, encourage each other and strengthen our faith. Without it, we can become lost.
Jesus knew it, which is why he wanted Peter, James and John during some of his most intense and challenging moments. Let's not think we know better than Jesus, or our Father and let's continue to meet together.
Those of us at the weekend away have a marvellous opportunity to do just that, but whether we're there or not, this passage suggests that we should seek out fellowship, because it's that important.
God bless you all today, and every day.
